How to Tell If Your iPhone Has Water Damage

The Liquid Contact Indicator (LCI) — Your First Check

Every iPhone has a built-in Liquid Contact Indicator — a small adhesive dot that permanently changes color when it's exposed to liquid. Apple uses it to determine whether liquid damage voids your warranty, and repair technicians check it first on any water-exposure claim.

Here's how to find it on your iPhone:

• Use a SIM card ejector tool (or an unfolded paperclip) to eject the SIM tray
• Shine a flashlight into the SIM tray slot
• Look for a small circular indicator dot
• White or silver = no liquid exposure (normal)
• Red or pink/rose = liquid detected (triggered)

On newer iPhones (12 and later), the LCI is located inside the SIM tray slot itself. On older models, it may be at the bottom near the charging port or inside the headphone jack (if present).

Other Signs Your iPhone Has Water Damage

Even before you check the LCI, your iPhone might be showing symptoms:

• Muffled or distorted audio: Water in the speaker grilles or earpiece
• Charging problems: Won't charge, slow charge, or random disconnects — liquid in the Lightning/USB-C port
• Face ID stopped working: The Face ID sensor array is sensitive to moisture
• Screen flickering or discoloration: Liquid behind the display or affecting display connectors
• Touch unresponsive in certain areas: Moisture between screen and digitizer
• Random restarts or shutdowns: Logic board short circuits from liquid bridging components
• Foggy/cloudy camera lens: Moisture inside the camera module

Is My iPhone "Water Resistant" — Doesn't That Mean It's Protected?

iPhones from the iPhone 7 onward have an IP67 or IP68 water resistance rating. But "water resistant" is not the same as "waterproof" — and the rating degrades over time.

Key things to understand:

• IP68 (iPhone 12+) means 6 meters for 30 minutes in controlled lab conditions
• Everyday drops, accumulated dust, and normal wear reduce the seal's effectiveness
• Chlorinated pool water, salt water, and soapy water are far more damaging than plain water
• Apple's warranty does not cover water damage regardless of the IP rating

In short: IP ratings provide some protection for accidental splashes and brief submersions, but they're not a guarantee. If your iPhone has been submerged or heavily soaked, treat it as a water damage situation regardless of its rating.

My iPhone Got Wet — What Should I Do Right Now?

Follow this checklist immediately:

• ✅ Power it off — hold down side button + volume down, then slide to power off
• ✅ Remove the SIM card — this lets air circulate in the tray slot
• ✅ Gently shake out excess liquid — don't blow air into ports
• ✅ Leave it upright in a dry place — don't lay flat
• ✅ Bring it to TechITAZ — within 24 hours for best recovery odds
• ❌ Don't put it in rice — this is a myth; rice doesn't absorb internal moisture effectively and wastes critical time
• ❌ Don't use a hair dryer or oven — heat accelerates corrosion
• ❌ Don't try to charge it — electricity + liquid = fried components

Should I Repair It or Sell It As-Is?

This is a common question we get at TechITAZ. Here's how to think about it:

• A working iPhone 15 Pro is worth $350–$390 at buyback
• The same phone with triggered LCI + not booting is worth $30–$60 for parts
• A successful water damage cleaning ($49–$150) could restore it to near-full value

In most cases, attempting the repair first is the right call. TechITAZ charges $49 for diagnostics and cleaning — if we can't fix it, you've spent $49 but know exactly where you stand. And we'll buy the phone for parts anyway.

Bring your water-damaged iPhone to us at 11613 W Kinderman Dr, Avondale AZ 85323. We're open Mon–Fri 9 AM–8 PM, Sat–Sun 9 AM–6 PM. Walk-ins welcome, no appointment needed.